Rishi K.’s Post

Setting the Record Straight on Symvess By Dr. Ernest Moore, Dr. Charles J. Fox, and Dr. Rishi Kundi You might have seen some news recently about the FDA’s approval of Symess, a first-in-class bioengineered human tissue that is designed to be a universally implantable vascular conduit for use in arterial replacement and repair. Symvess, which is manufactured by Humacyte, Inc. (Nasdaq: $HUMA), a commercial-stage biotechnology platform company developing universally implantable, bioengineered human tissues at commercial scale, has the potential to offer trauma and vascular surgeons a valuable new tool treating trauma patients in the operating room. We know this because we’ve used it. As practicing vascular surgeons and trauma surgeons at major medical centers, each of us has extensive experience treating patients with Symvess – approximately 50 patients in all – and we can speak directly to the effectiveness of this bioengineered blood vessel in treating patients. . Over the last six years, we have used Symvess to repair vascular injury and preserve life and limb in patients who have been shot, stabbed, or suffered crushing blunt force trauma. We have used the vessel in patients with severe peripheral vascular disease and avoided amputation from poor circulation. We have used it to enable patients with renal failure to undergo dialysis. We have, in these patients and over these years, seen that Symvess functions well as a vascular conduit, is durable, and reliably restores blood flow to save life and limb – and that it does so without the negative consequences of implanting a synthetic plastic device. Symvess is an important addition to the tools that surgeons can use in treating injured patients, both at home and in the battlefield. We applaud the FDA’s approval of this important new technology and look forward to seeing it put to use in trauma care. —- Ernest E. Moore, MD Director of Surgery Research, Ernest E. Moore Shock Trauma Center Distinguished Professor of Surgery, University of Colorado Denver Charles J. Fox, MD, FACS Director Vascular Surgery, U MD Capital Region Attending Surgeon, Shock Trauma & University of Maryland Medical Centers Professor of Surgery Division of Vascular Surgery University of MD School of Medicine Rishi Kundi, MD, RPVI, FACS, FSVS Chief, Vascular & Endovascular Trauma Surgery R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center Associate Professor of Surgery University of Maryland School of Medicine